ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Day program only (no boarding for Grades 6–8).

Indicate a preliminary pathway (Athlete or Non-Playing Concentration). We'll pair you with an Admissions Officer to guide you through the process as you get to know us better.

While class observations aren’t available yet, choose one or more:

For information on Test-Optional Admissions for 2026-2027 and the Character Skills Snapshot, please refer to the information provided in the 'Test-Optional Admissions' dropdown.

A non-refundable $100 application fee is due when you submit your MAI application (the preliminary form has no fee). While we cannot waive this fee, families who receive an MAI need-based financial aid award will have the $100 credited toward tuition upon enrollment. (This is separate from the Clarity financial aid application fee of $65.)

Submit alongside your admission file. See Financial Aid section below.

Day & boarding options available for Grades 9–12 and PG.

Select Athlete or Non-Playing Major pathway.

Choose from on-campus/virtual sessions or tournament meet-ups (see above).

Application Fee: A non-refundable $100 application fee is due when you submit your MAI application. Families who receive need-based financial aid and enroll will have this fee credited toward tuition. (This is separate from the Clarity financial aid application fee of $60.)

For information on Test-Optional Admissions for 2026-2027 and the Character Skills Snapshot, please refer to the information provided in the 'Test-Optional Admissions' dropdown.

Masters Academy International is pleased to announce a test-optional admissions policy for our inaugural 2026-2027 academic year.

We believe that a student-athlete's potential cannot be fully captured by standardized testing alone. Our comprehensive evaluation process focuses on academic readiness through transcripts and teacher recommendations, athletic commitment and coachability, and the character qualities that define successful MAI students.

While standardized test scores (SSAT, ISEE, or similar assessments) and the Character Skills Snapshot are not required, we welcome any information that helps us understand your child's full academic and character profile. Students who have taken these assessments are encouraged to include them as part of their application portfolio—additional data points allow our admissions team to build a more complete picture of each applicant's strengths and readiness for MAI's unique program.

Every piece of information enriches our understanding, but we recognize that excellent students demonstrate their capabilities in different ways. This test-optional approach ensures that all qualified student-athletes have the opportunity to showcase their potential, whether through test scores or through other compelling aspects of their application.

Founding Families receive priority consideration for limited seats, earlier decision notification (December 12 vs. March 10), and exclusive benefits based on your financial pathway:

Both pathways are non-binding until January 9, 2026, giving you time to make a confident decision.

No. If admitted, you'll receive your decision on December 12 and have until January 9, 2026, to accept and submit your non-refundable deposit. This gives you nearly a month to get to know us better, ask questions, and finalize your decision.

If you don't accept by January 9, your application automatically returns to the Regular Notification pool—but your Founding Families offer (including any financial aid award or founder's rate eligibility) expires and is not guaranteed in the later round.

Your offer of admission and any associated financial aid award expire. Your application returns to Regular Notification, and you'll be reconsidered alongside that pool. Decisions for Regular Notification are released March 10.

Important: Seats and financial aid that were available in December may not be available in March. Competition increases significantly in Regular Notification, and we cannot guarantee the same outcome.

No need—your Founding Families application automatically moves to Regular Notification if you don't accept by January 9. However, you would lose access to:

Founding Families requiring aid receive the strongest advantage: first access to MAI's full financial aid budget.

You'll submit your Clarity application alongside your admission materials. On December 12, you'll receive both your admission decision and your financial aid award (if eligible based on demonstrated need). This means you'll know exactly what MAI will cost your family in Year 1—months before Regular Notification families even receive decisions.

Important: Financial aid awards are based on demonstrated need and are reassessed annually. Your award may increase, decrease, or remain stable depending on changes to your family's financial circumstances. At this time, financial aid awards are only applicable to tuition, and do not extend to sporting, competition, or other fees at MAI.

MAI's need-based aid budget is finite. Once Founding Families offers are accepted in January, a significant portion of our aid budget will already be allocated.

Regular Notification applicants (decisions in March) compete for remaining funds. There is no guarantee that funds will be available, or that your demonstrated need can be met, if you wait.

Absolutely. This is your best chance to secure need-based support. Waiting until Regular Notification puts you in competition for a smaller aid pool with more applicants.

MAI renews financial aid grants based on your family's demonstrated financial need each year. Therefore, families must update their financial information annually via the Clarity application.

MAI remains committed to partnering with families to finance an MAI education, but recognizes that a family's ability to contribute toward tuition may increase or decrease depending on annual financial circumstances.

What you can expect:

When determining your family's estimated contribution, Clarity considers the total number of children in tuition-charging schools, including college, parochial, and independent school programs.

MAI's financial aid committee will determine the appropriate percentage of your family's overall estimated contribution to be allocated to MAI. MAI cannot subsidize tuition associated with other schools where financial aid is unavailable, and reserves the right to adjust awards based on any changes to the number of children in tuition-charging schools.

Yes. Families may request reconsideration by the financial aid committee upon receipt of a financial aid decision.

Appeals are only considered if:

To file an appeal, you must submit:

Appeals without new information will not be considered.

For Founding Families: You'll receive your aid decision on December 12 and have until January 9 to appeal and finalize your decision. Use this time wisely if you need to request reconsideration.

Generally not. Families who enrolled without financial aid must wait three years before applying for financial aid, unless a sibling will be joining MAI or unless extraordinary circumstances arise.

MAI recognizes that unfortunate events (job loss, medical emergencies, death of a parent) can change a family's ability to contribute to tuition. In cases of documented hardship, MAI will work with families to formulate a plan for financing, though aid cannot be guaranteed.

Important: If your child does not receive a financial aid award at enrollment, and your family cannot reasonably afford to finance full tuition for the remaining years, we strongly recommend you carefully consider whether enrollment is feasible. Please discuss your situation openly with our admissions and financial aid teams.

MAI understands that life circumstances can shift unexpectedly.

If you experience significant financial hardship after enrollment (job loss, medical crisis, death in the family, etc.), you may apply for financial aid even if you enrolled as a full-pay family. You'll need to:

MAI will review your case, but aid cannot be guaranteed and is subject to budget availability.

If you enrolled with the founder's rate: Applying for financial aid in a subsequent year means transitioning to standard published tuition (adjusted by your aid award). The founder's rate is only available to families who enroll and remain as full-pay.

The Founder's Tuition Rate is MAI's inaugural pricing, available exclusively to Founding Families who enroll without need-based financial aid.

Example:

Year 1 founder's rate, Middle School: $49,950

Year 1 standard published rate, Middle School: $55,500

Your tuition will increase annually at the same percentage as our published rates to keep pace with operational costs and program enhancements. However, because you're starting from a lower base, you'll always pay less than families who enrolled at the higher standard rate.

To qualify, families must:

Your base rate locks in as your starting point, but annual increases apply to maintain your school's operational excellence.

Think of it this way: You're locking in a 10% advantage over standard tuition that compounds over time.

If you have a second child enroll, we will bring them in at the comparable Founder’s rate for their grade, and those savings multiply.

Yes—at the same percentage rate as published tuition. This is standard practice at independent schools and allows MAI to:

The key difference: You're starting from a lower base rate, so you'll always pay less than families who enrolled at standard published tuition—even as both rates increase proportionally.

Yes, because a truly frozen rate wouldn't be sustainable for MAI—and ultimately wouldn't serve your family.

Here's why this model works better:

If we froze your rate forever:

With the founder's base rate model:

You're getting the best of both worlds: meaningful savings and a school that can grow in quality over time.

No. The founder's rate and financial aid are separate pathways, and we don't combine them.

Here's why: The founder's rate is designed for families who can commit to full-pay partnership. Financial aid is designed to make MAI accessible to families who need support. Keeping these pathways separate ensures both serve their intended purpose.

If you need aid, your advantage is different—and potentially more valuable: first access to MAI's full financial aid budget before Regular Notification competition begins.

If there's any uncertainty about affordability, we encourage you to apply for financial aid. You'll receive a clear aid offer (if eligible) on December 12, and you can decide whether MAI is feasible with that support.

What you don't want to do is commit at the founder's rate and later realize the cost isn't sustainable. Let's set your family up for long-term success.

Potentially, but only before decisions are released.

If you applied for aid but your circumstances change (e.g., you receive an inheritance, you decide not to pursue aid), you must notify our admissions office in writing by December 5, 2025—before we finalize December 12 decisions. We'll process you as a full-pay applicant eligible for the founder's rate.

After December 12, switching pathways becomes complicated and may not be possible.

Important: Remember that the founder's rate still increases annually (at the same percentage as published tuition). If your financial circumstances are uncertain, applying for aid may be the safer path. Our financial aid team can help you understand your options.

No. The founder's rate is exclusive to Founding Families who apply by November 19 and accept by January 9, 2026. After January 9, this window closes permanently.

Regular Notification families (and Founding Families who don't accept by January 9) are offered MAI's standard published tuition rate.

MAI does offer a small number of merit-based scholarships, but all of our aid is need-based. However, the founder's rate offers several advantages over typical merit scholarships:

Typical Merit Scholarships:

MAI's Founder's Rate:

No. The founder's rate and financial aid are separate pathways and cannot be combined.

Your pathway depends on your circumstances:

If you can afford full tuition without aid:

If you need financial support:

This is why we encourage families to think carefully before applying for aid.

Once you apply for aid and receive an award, you cannot switch to the founder's rate. The founder's rate is exclusively for families who enroll without requesting or receiving financial aid.

Before you apply for aid, ask yourself:

If your family can afford full tuition and you're primarily interested in reducing costs, the founder's rate is your pathway. If affordability is genuinely uncertain, apply for aid and let Clarity assess your need.

You cannot have it both ways.

If you experience significant financial hardship after enrollment (job loss, medical crisis, etc.), you may apply for financial aid even though you enrolled at the founder's rate.

However: